#the aker'varus

[vaalthus]

The Aker'varus (spoilers)

Ya know this entire time it somehow didn't occur to me that the Aker'varus was just a dragon this entire time, lowkey assumed it was just some terrifying giant bird-like creature based on the Aerozoophobia creature we encountered in the Jungle Adventure quest. A thought that becomes extra dumb when you remember that particular fear monster looks like this:

So the foreshadowing for what the mythical beast actually is was staring me right in the face and I completely missed that.

Ooof the trauma.

Sounds like an opportunity to encounter the actual dragon in the future when concerning the plot of the southern kingdom. On another note, I still find the matter of Kassandra's parent's death much too suspect when we know how the Imperial family operates. I'm still not fully convinced they aren't at fault for the Aker'varus killing Kassandra's parents so to speak. Their demise in this manner just seems too convenient at the moment.

Yo! A biologically metal themed dragon!?!?! Now I want us to fight the real thing even more now.

....I'm convinced this man is an anime protagonist.

Hmm while not stated, I suspect this fire being casted is doing "good" damage, as in the "elemental" good we see in game. Would certainly explain why the fire is pink in contrast to the orange flames Sirius was shown to cast as a child and furthermore it wouldn't be the first time we've seen the fires of other elements take on a completely different colors. In the case of good, its usually been a color motif of either pure white or a pinkish hue. Just an observation though.

I. WANT. TO. FIGHT. THE. REAL. THING!!!!!!

Okaaay didn't think Inanitas was straight up inside the artifact but I certainly won't complain. Might explain why no one else but Sirius has been able to use the artifact's power within the Imperial family's bloodline for a long time. It simply comes down to there being a literal conscience entity to decide who gets to use it or not. Gave Sirius some mad celestial drip though.

Easy to see why the Imperial family does not want Sirius to be free of the Sword of Inanitas.

This line feels more ominous than anything. Sounds clear the Celestial has its own machinations it wants to achieve and yet I cannot help but be at unease when reading this.

In spite of this feeling like a death flag, I suspect what might happen here is that Kassandra will simply be trapped in the Fearscape as opposed to dying in shutting the engine down with minimal damage. Perhaps leading to quests down the line to free her though that is a guess at best. Or her character will simply receive a fate worse than death treatment and she'll be forced to stay in an endless fearscape, for all eternity...or she'll just die. Alternatively, this might be a convenient escape for her from the Arcana. Can't imagine how Sirius will react if she's truly lost forever though.

[seiji-the-ice-drake]

Oh boy, haven't done one of these posts in a while!

So the Aker'varus is a kind of dragon. Interesting. I wonder if the non-fear version will become an Arena Challenge

Aw hell yeah, time to fuck it up!

*Does no damage* damn

I don't know what to put here tbh, this is just kind of a nice moment

So he's a celestial Warlock then. Duly noted.

[vaalthus]

Ah and as previously suspected, the Southern Empire has a bit, and by bit I mean big, of a political corruption problem when it comes to just existing. I am curious as to whether it was built that way or whether it simply devolved into that overtime.

That being said, it makes sense as to why Sirius refuses his place on the throne and why there's been a theme of Damocles throughout this questline so far. Good men and women like Sirius don't always last long in political systems that demand that one be curel, corrupt, and amoral just to survive. Leading to them either being ineffective, dead, or becoming something they themselves would look upon with disgust to keep the system running as is.

Worst part here though is that becoming emperor might not be a choice Sirius has. As Kassandra pointed out the Imperial family seems to a vested interest in Sirius being bound to the Sword of Inanitas in spite of the limitations it imposes on his very being.

Coupled that with fact that Fear Sirius asserts that wielding the sword will allow Sirius to rule unopposed brings me to a conclusion. It is likely in my view that the Imperial family sees the Celestial artifact as a means of ruling by virtue of might more than anything and judging by the fact that no one in the family has been able to use the sword since Sirius would seem to mean the power they hold over their empire isn't what it used to be and are desperate to have something maintain that hold or they're just tired of the politicking they normally employ to get what they need or want.

Meaning they will certainly try and force Sirius to either rule or at least keep him within reach of the Empire.

Which brings me to Kassandra. In spite of what we just learned about the cause of her parents death, I'm not fully convinced that the Imperial family didn't have a role in their deaths yet. Whether it be putting them in the sights of this Aker'varus or some other way, it feels way too convenient that the family that runs on corruption and sacrifices just happened to no longer have two of the only people that were researching for a way to have Inanitas' sword removed from Sirius against their wishes, especially if its true they are desperate to have someone in the family have access to the sword's magic.

Either way this might further put a wrench in Kassandra's plan to leave the empire for good. I can't see them allowing her to leave if they have to enough awareness to know that she's one of the few people that could be used to coerce Sirius, in a way that's against him I should add, into ruling.